NSSGA Podcast
Bill Duguay brings his vast amount of industry experience back to the podcast today to discuss the importance of workplace safety, accident prevention, and the implementation of stringent safety protocols. Bill, who now advises leadership teams on running safety-oriented businesses, shares a personal and poignant story about a lockout/tagout procedure gone wrong, an incident that nearly cost his father his life, and that had a profound impact upon his family. Throughout the episode, he stresses the human element of workplace safety, advocating that the protection of workers extends...
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In a key Safety Shorts episode, Aaron Witt, CEO of Build Witt, shares crucial safety insights from his early construction days. Starting at 18 with no prior experience, Witt learned the hard way that following experienced workers without question doesn't guarantee safety. His narrative highlights the danger of neglecting safety protocols, especially around trenches, and the life-saving importance of adhering to guidelines. The discussion emphasizes the need for questioning, the courage to challenge unsafe practices, and the shared responsibility in promoting a safe work environment....
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Josh Ierna, Safety Manager at Tilcon Connecticut, joins Libby today to delve into the transformative journey of Total Worker Health and its profound impact on organizational wellbeing. Josh highlights the evolution of Total Worker Health, addressing multifaceted issues such as mental wellness, opioid overdose prevention, and suicide awareness, through proactive engagement with employees, fostering a culture of support and empowerment. Throughout the discussion, Josh elaborates on Tilcon Connecticut's journey, from raising awareness through dedicated training sessions to implementing...
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This week, Libby reunites with DJ Schmutz, Director of Operations with MSHA Safety Services, as he delivers a compelling narrative that transcends workplace boundaries to underscore the real-world significance of safety training. DJ's harrowing personal experience from a year and a half ago vividly illustrates the importance of being prepared for emergencies, as his son's seizure becomes a poignant reminder that safety skills can be a lifeline in unexpected situations. As you will hear, this episode not only emphasizes the critical need for maintaining composure and relying on training in...
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Welcome to another impactful episode of Safety Shorts with your host, Libby Pritchard. In this episode, Libby welcomes back a special guest, Cal Beyer, Vice President of Risk, Safety, and Mental Well-Being at ethOs, who brings with him his extensive experience and knowledge in addressing mental health and critical incident response in the workplace. Today, he shares a pivotal moment when he realized the importance of psychological first aid and critical incident response, while also offering practical strategies that can transform the way organizations support their employees through...
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With the holidays right around the corner, Libby brings us this special installment of Safety Shorts that is both timely and timeless. Today, the spotlight is on Bill Duguay, an industry veteran with an impressive 40+ years of experience in constructing roads and bridges across the nation. Beyond his career in construction, Bill now collaborates closely with leadership teams, aiding them in the pursuit of business excellence. The central theme of this episode revolves around a powerful safety narrative, as Bill shares a personal account that serves as an unwavering reminder of the grave...
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In another compelling episode of Safety Shorts, host Libby Pritchard introduces a special guest, Jennifer Miles, a seasoned safety professional with 16 years of expertise currently affiliated with Sales Solutions. Jennifer's passion for safety and her dedication to saving lives serve as a true source of inspiration. In this episode, the focus delves deeply into the critical topic of fall protection when working at heights, a subject that has witnessed a concerning increase in fatalities within the industry this year. Join Libby and Jennifer in this enlightening episode to help make a positive...
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Welcome back to another impactful episode of Safety Shorts, where Libby welcomes Jason Epstein, NSSGA's Director of Membership, to delve into the significance of Epilepsy Awareness Month and explore Jason's own personal journey living with epilepsy. In this engaging conversation, they discuss the importance of dispelling myths about epilepsy, offer practical tips for assisting someone having a seizure, and highlight the broader impact of raising awareness about this neurological condition. As you listen in today, you are encouraged to remember that your knowledge can make a difference in...
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In yet another compelling episode of Safety Shorts, Libby welcomes DJ Schmutz, an advocate from MSHA Safety Services, to highlight the paramount importance of fostering a strong workplace safety culture and encourage individuals to assert their Stop Work Authority in hazardous situations. DJ's gripping personal story vividly illustrates the human inclination to yield to external pressures, emphasizing that safety ultimately rests in one's own hands. This episode underscores the significance of personal responsibility in safety, the role of leadership in shaping a safety-oriented environment,...
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Travis Wilson, a former member of the 82nd Airborne, joins Libby on the podcast this week. As an army veteran with extensive experience in safety and health, Travis brings his wealth of knowledge in hazardous waste management, chemical safety, and industrial hygiene to share a cautionary tale that highlights the importance of safety basics and staying vigilant in the face of potential hazards. As you will, Travis’ story serves as a powerful reminder of the significance of adhering to safety protocols, maintaining effective communication, and understanding the importance of emergency...
info_outlineJim Anderson, Safety Superintendent at Mitsubishi Cement, joins Libby on the podcast today. From doing Search and Rescue all the way to being a Chief at the volunteer fire department where he worked, Jim has always been involved in health and safety for his entire career. In this episode, he shares one of the many safety stories he has accumulated over the years that is really quite personal for him.
Episode Highlights:
- One July day, Jim was made aware that Luther, a shipping clerk at their plant whom he has known for decades was displaying some unusual symptoms
- Luther had been to the hospital a couple times for the same symptoms, but they were not considered an emergency so the ER team did not dig any deeper
- This time, Luther had been told by EMS that he was not having a heart attack or cardiac event, and to go see a doctor after he got after work but his coworker who knows him well was uncomfortable with this advice and contacted Jim about it
- When Jim got to the plant and talked to the clerk, and he was uncomfortable with that plan as well
- When questioning him, Jim discovered that the clerk had been gardening all day in the July sun and heat the day before
- To Jim, his symptoms were characteristic of electrolyte imbalance, particularly cramping and pain in his legs
- But he also had some lower left lung pain which didn’t make sense to Jim, so he talked Luther into going to the hospital
- Jim drove him there as ambulances were hours away for a variety of reasons
- The hospital they went to took the time to explore even further than the emergency rooms had been able to previously, and found that Luther was suffering from Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) - clots in the leg that can migrate to other areas (lungs, brain, etc).becoming truly life threatening
- While Luther has survived, Jim learned of another person experiencing similar symptoms on the same day who sadly didn’t go to a hospital and ended up dying
- Thanks to the fact that there were people who knew Luther well enough to see that he just wasn’t acting himself, and that Luther listened to Jim to go to the hospital to get checked out, he is alive today, and has since given Jim permission to share his story
Toolbox Talk Discussion Questions:
- In this story, we hear the story of Luther, an employee who is experiencing medical symptoms but wasn’t sure if it was serious enough to go to the doctor. What does this tell us about listening to ourselves and taking medical threats seriously?
- How can this story encourage us to check in with one another and stay well at work and at home?
- Do you have a story to share about taking a medical threat seriously?
Quotes:
“I didn't feel comfortable with just letting him go to the doctor after work and chances are he wouldn't have gone and in later conversation with him, he confirmed that.”
“He said he'd actually been to the hospital twice before for the same symptoms and they weren't able to figure it out.”
“He wasn't in really bad shape, but he was in bad enough shape.”
“There's a 95% chance that this is nothing but there's a 5% chance that this is something.”
“I knew this individual, that he needed somebody to dig a little deeper because the hospitals that he had gone to, they, their primary concern is,’Okay, is the guy going to die immediately?” Emergency Rooms are to treat emergencies but they didn't quite dig deep enough.”
“And there's a condition called DVT, or deep vein thrombosis, and it's clots in your leg, and those clots had migrated. And they cause what would be called a pulmonary embolism or a clogged artery in the lungs. And that is truly a life threatening issue.”
“Because of the personal relationship that the gentleman had at the plant with Luther, knew him well enough to call me at home going, ‘Hey, I'm not comfortable with EMS getting turned around. Can you dig into this a little deeper?’”
“By the grace of God, he listened to me going, ‘Okay, there is a 5% chance that this could be bad.’ But that 5% wound up being the suspicions that we had.”
Links:
National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association website